Chapter 4
Derek demanded a private meeting.
Genevieve refused.
Claire attended.
So did Derek’s attorney.
They met in a conference room at Bellomo Holdings rather than the estate.
Derek looked insulted by the location.
“You brought lawyers into our marriage less than twelve hours after the wedding.”
Genevieve looked at him.
“You brought lenders into it before the wedding.”
His attorney advised him not to respond.
Genevieve continued.
“Why did you tell banks Bellomo assets would guarantee Callahan debt?”
“I said discussions were progressing.”
“They weren’t.”
“They could have.”
“My mother refused.”
Derek’s expression tightened.
There it was.
Genevieve saw it plainly.
He knew about Adelaide’s refusal.
“How long have you known she wouldn’t sign?”
Derek looked away.
“Answer.”
“Two weeks.”
“So when you kicked her chair away last night, you already knew she was the person blocking your financing.”
His attorney interrupted.
“That characterization is inflammatory.”
Genevieve did not look at him.
“Good.”
Derek leaned forward.
“I kicked the chair because I was angry.”
“At her vote?”
“At the way she treats me.”
Genevieve studied him.
Both things could be true.
That was what made people dangerous.
Actions rarely had only one motive.
Derek insisted Callahan Infrastructure was healthy.
The guarantee was simply efficient financing.
Genevieve requested audited financial statements.
His attorney refused.
“You want Bellomo collateral without showing Bellomo the debt?”
Claire asked.
Derek’s attorney corrected himself.
“We’ll provide appropriate disclosures through counsel.”
After the meeting, Claire stopped Genevieve in the hall.
“He’s scared.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t mistake fear for guilt about everything.”
Genevieve sighed.
“You’ve known me too long.”
“Yes.”
Claire continued.
“We need to know whether Callahan actually needs rescue or simply wants cheaper capital.”
The answer came through Bellomo’s banking relationships.
Callahan Infrastructure had recently delayed payments to two major subcontractors.
A pension contribution dispute remained unresolved.
A private lender had also shortened the maturity date on a significant credit facility after a project failed to meet construction milestones.
None of those facts meant insolvency.
Together, they meant pressure.
Genevieve reviewed the dates.
The credit facility had been shortened eight weeks earlier.
Two days later, Derek first asked Adelaide about voting for the Bellomo guarantee.
Clue number two.
May you like
The financing pressure did not appear after the wedding.
The wedding had become part of the financing plan.
